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Home » Recipes » Recipes

Easy Peasy Pasta Preschool Lunch

By Laura Fuentes Updated Jan 31, 2025

5 from 9 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

This preschool pasta lunch makes a perfect meal for smaller appetites, and it's easy to whip up with simple ingredients. 

Try this pasta preschool lunch for a healthy and colorful meal your kids will love. It’s simple to make and easy for your child to tote in their lunch bag and enjoy at school. Grab some pasta, and let’s work some magic!

Peas and pasta in a lunch container with fresh strawberries, cucumber, and carrots.

Easy Preschool Pasta Lunch

This pasta salad comes together quickly and makes a great lunch idea for smaller appetites. It’s easy to whip up with just a handful of familiar ingredients and offers a variety of nutrients their growing bodies need.

You could also include chopped deli cuts, diced grilled chicken, or hard-boiled eggs for added protein. When my kids were in preschool this was always a win, and they loved small bits of deli ham or turkey added into the mix too.

Pasta salads also hold up well in a lunch bag and don’t require any reheating- it’s the perfect way to pack something your child will feel comfortable eating on their own. Just add an ice pack to the lunch bag, and they’re all set.

If you’re looking for something more bento-style try one of these preschool snack ideas. They’re made packed with different snack bites, fruit, veggies, and protein and they’re perfect for kids.

What is in this Preschool Pasta Lunch

Pasta salads are fair game for customizing for preschool lunches, but here’s what you need for a good start:

  • Pasta: macaroni, rotini, penne, and shells work great!
  • Green peas: frozen green peas add bright color, fiber, and protein.
  • Light dressing: use a light vinaigrette or plain olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
  • Something sweet: pack this lunch with strawberries, sliced apples, grapes, etc.
  • Veggie: add fresh veggies for a crunchy snack.

Want more healthy lunch ideas to fill up the lunchbox? I’ve got just the ones you’re looking for:

101 Packed Lunches eBook

All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!

Grab the Book!

How to Pack Preschool Pasta Lunch

Here’s how to assemble a pasta salad and keep it fresh until lunchtime:

  1. Prep
    Boil the pasta, slice the cucumbers, and prep the berries.
  2. Toss the Pasta Salad
    In a large bowl, combine the pasta and thawed green peas. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Toss to combine.
  3. Keep the Pasta Fresh
    Transfer the pasta into the largest compartment of the lunch container. Pack the fruit and veggies into separate compartments.
  4. Prepare for Take-Off
    Close the lunch container and pack it into a lunch bag with an ice pack.

Keeping this Lunch Fresh at School

Follow these simple tips to ensure this pasta salad stays just as good at lunchtime as when you packed it:

Use the right container
A sturdy, compartmentalized lunchbox is the best way to keep everything separate and intact after a morning of being jostled around in your preschooler’s backpack.

Keep it cool
Consider adding an ice pack to the lunch bag. This keeps everything fresh and crisp, especially if the pasta salad has dressing.

Skip the mayo
Light dressings like olive oil or vinaigrette hold up better in a lunchbox and won’t make the pasta heavy.


More Preschool Lunch Ideas

If you love this pasta salad, you’ve got to try these quick apple & cheddar quesadillas. SO good! Cheesy pizza uncrustables are another must, and a homemade Lunchable lets kids mix and match for a fun, build-your-own meal.

Preschool Pasta Lunch

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
This preschool pasta lunch makes a perfect meal for smaller appetites, and it’s easy to whip up with simple ingredients. 
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • ½ cup dry macaroni or shell pasta
  • ¼ cup frozen peas, thawed
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt & black pepper
  • Strawberries, washed and halved
  • Sliced cucumber
  • Carrot chips

Instructions

  • Prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
  • To the pasta, add the frozen green peas, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Toss the ingredients together and transfer the pasta salad into a compartmentalized lunch container.
  • Pack the veggies and fruit into a separate compartment and top with the lid. 
  • Refrigerate or pack the container into a lunch bag with an ice pack.

Equipment

101 Packed Lunches
Kids Lunch Box
six small dip containers with lids
Dips or Dressings
ice pack
bluey lunch bag
Bluey Lunch Bag

Nutrition

Serving: 1 lunch | Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

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5 from 9 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




laura fuentes momables holding a lunch bag and lunch boxes

My name is Laura Fuentes
I’m here to help you simplify school lunches with fresh ideas your kids will actually eat.

Mom of 3. Certified in Integrative Nutrition. 5x Cookbook Author.

school lunch ideas! →

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